To Mustache or Not to Mustache?

Andrew sent along an article that recently appeared in the International Herald Tribune that suggests mustaches have become 'so almost cool'. For me, though, I wonder whether having a mustache is a sign of masculinity or is it a sign that you are so out of touch with style that you might as well grow a mullet as well?

I can't grow a mustache. Never have been able to. Can't grow a beard either. I always tend to look like Shaggy from Scooby Doo. But I guess I never thought that men with mustaches were showing any kind of masculinity. Unless you associate it with a Devil may care attitude that says you are too manly to let society dictate to you how you are to look.

Are mustaches cool? Uncool? Or so painfully uncool they are actually kind of hip? It's possible they are all three at once, depending on who is wearing one and who is taking notice. One thing is for sure: No other style of male grooming sends so many potent - and often mixed - signals.

But the mustache is also associated with masculinity and power. It has long enjoyed an un- ironic popularity among blue-collar men. "If you're a fireman, you have a mustache," said Ron Walker, 47, a fire captain in Dixon, California. "It's an unspoken deal."

The mustache is mostly associated with wrestling fans, porn stars and men over 40.

I'm curious. If you have a second, leave a comment on whether you wear facial hair or not and why or why you haven't chosen to do so.

Comments

[Jeff]

No facial hair. Wife hates the way it looks on me, hates the way it feels to her. Can't grow a decent beard anyway since it's too thin and comes in three different colors.

I don't have a problem with facial hair (on men) as long as it's neatly trimmed and doesn't look like the Unabomber or something could live in it without discovery.

[AndrewP]

No facial hair for me either. My wife has asked me many times to grow a goatee or let the little patch of hair under my bottom lip grow. But, I have the same problem as Jeff. The hair just ain't there. Even if it was, I don't know that I would let it stick around very long between shaves. I'm not very good with my hands, so I don't think I would be very good at trimming and maintaining a beard/mustache.

But, I do admire a man that can wear a hooped mustache. They look like they would tickle the nose quite a bit. I guess I'm not man enough to handle the constent nose tickle.

[Bryan]

I am a Police Officer who is clean cut. Don't believe that even a mustache is professional. Why do firemen have them anyway? Also why do alot of firemen smoke? Ironis huh? As far as the mustache.... is it a lack of confidence in the masculinity?

[aravind]

i dont have a mustache,since five years i shave my face regularly could u plz tell me ways to grow mustache.......

[Allyssa]

Dear Bryan, Most Firemen have a mustache becuase it's tradition. Before the PPE that today's firemen wear it was thought that soaking your mustache/beard in water before you enter a burning building would help make the air more breathable. This is no longer the case wiht todays technology. however they are limited on facial hair they can grow because of how thier face masks fit.

[Drphibes]

I always wanted to grow a mustache just to see what I would look like, so 5 months ago I did. If it turns out to be so bad that no one can stand it, I'll shave it off.

[Michael]

At the moment I am forced to shave regularly because my facial hair only now starts to grow and it grows slowly, so right now it looks too messy to let it grow. I do believe though that I do look better with some facial hair to give my babyface a more distinctive look. I like some stubble on it, too clean looks somewhat boring in my case.
I personally like mustaches but I don´t believe that it would suit me since I have an already broad face and with a mustache it will appear even broader.
I´ve seen people though that look great with a mustache and that should never go without. Errol Flynn, Burt Reynolds and Tom Selleck look great with mustaches, for example.